Man charged in 1994 murder denied bail, again

A 34-year-old Troy man charged in the killing March 1994 of Rosemary Croiser was denied bail Wednesday for the second time in as many weeks.

Scott Chaplin, 34, of Ahearn Avenue, appeared with his attorney, F. Stanton Ackerman, before acting Supreme Court Judge Christian Hummel seeking to reverse a no bail ruling made two weeks ago by Rensselaer County Judge Andrew Ceresia.

Arguing that the no bail ruling should be reversed, Ackerman cited the high-profile murder trial of Christopher Porco. Porco, convicted of killing his father with an ax and attempting to kill his mother, was able to post $250,000 bail while his trial was pending.

Chaplin and George Mott III, 42, of First Street, have been indicted on murder charges for killing Crosier, 47, between 8:30 p.m. March 23, 1994, and 6 a.m. March 24, 1994.

The robbery and killing occurred inside an Association of Retarded Persons Care group home on Prout Avenue, where Crosier worked an overnight shift as a counselor.

Ackerman told Hummel that Chaplin never left Troy despite knowing since1994 that he was a suspect. Ackerman added that Chaplin learned in December that a grand jury was poised to indict him but still stayed.

“The purpose of bail, your honor, is to assure to the court and the prosecution that the individual appears in court in a timely fashion,” Ackerman said. “The only blemish on my client’s record is a warrant for an unpaid $250 traffic fine in the town of Colonie.”

Ackerman brought up the high-profile Albany County case of Christopher Porco, who was convicted of killing his father with an ax and attempting to kill his mother.

“There is precedent for bail in serious crimes, your honor,” Ackerman said. “One is Christopher Porco who was released on $250,000 bail pending trial.”

Ackerman also wants Chaplin out of jail to prepare the defense.

“I have a lot of work to do and I need Mr. Chaplin to help me,” Ackerman said.